The Gladiators bowed out of the FA Trophy as title chasing Gateshead edged home at the Geoquip Stadium on Saturday. All they had to show for their endeavour was a consolation effort from Gary Webster after goals from skipper Kris Gate and winger Wayne Phillips had given the Tynesiders a two goal advantage.

Ryan Davis was ruled out with knee trouble so the inclusion of Steve Taylor in the line up was the one change from the team beaten by Ossett Town seven days earlier. There were however a number of positional alterations with Steve Circuit going to the right back berth vacated by Ryan Laight who took Davis' position in central defence. Steve Taylor began on the right of midfield with Webster adding legs in the central area.

 In a competitive opening Gateshead had the better chances with Jamie Harwood screwing a 5th minute chance well wide before forcing Andy Richmond into what turned out to be a comfortable save on 19 minutes.

In between Laurence Hall was even further wide than Harwood after headers from Neil Ashley and Taylor had created a half chance and when James Curtis handled in the 13th minute, Matty Caudwell's low driven free kick forced a spooned clearance from full back Philip Cave from which Hall nodded gently wide.

A 21st minute corner forced by the persistence of Simon Barraclough was met by James Lukic whose header was claimed efficiently by goalkeeper Ian Aitken to his right.

The nip and tuck affair continued as Jamie McClen drove fiercely over the bar from thirty yards and Ian Robson, scorer of Gateshead's equaliser in the 1-1 draw at the Geoquip Stadium in September, cushioned a near post header wide.

But Gateshead went in front on 38 minutes when Matlock were guilty of not closing down scorer GATE quickly enough. In fact they were slack in allowing the ball to be worked intricately along the edge of their eighteen yard box from the right and the midfielder punished them with a power packed twenty yarder which fairly ripped into the net beyond Richmond's dive.

Then Matlock had to defend well to prevent any further damage before half time. Circuit did well to guide a Harwood cross away from danger and when Harwood nodded back a deep centre from rthe left by Cave, Paul Riley was ideally placed to stop Robson from profitting.

Matlock reappeared after the break in determined mood and the signs looked good, especially when they produced their best move so far in the 49th minute. Caudwell and Webster combined sweetly on the left to feed Barraclough who cut inside to warm Aitken's fingers with a powerful twenty yarder.

But it was Gateshead who struck a killer blow with a second goal in the 55th minute. They broke quickly forward and PHILLIPS was in space on the left to fire in a low cross drive into the opposite corner. Richmond did well to save from Graeme Armstrong before to their credit, Matlock dominated the latter stages.

 Inspired by the energy and industry of Webster who seemed to pop up almost everywhere, they poured forward, but really needed a little slice of luck as well as an even bigger portion of penetration. A good move ended with Hall striking a cross shot which just beat the back post.

 In a rare Heed break, Robson appeared to take on and beat the Matlock rearguard all on his own, only to shoot weakly at Richmond when it mattered.

But the Gladiators gave themselves hope with a 71st minute goal from WEBSTER who struck a perfect first timer past Aitken's right hand and into the corner after a flag kick had only been cleared to the edge of the penalty box. It was a well deserved goal for him.

Lukic, pushed further forward, fired too high from 15 yards before Gateshead were reduced to ten men when substitute Chris Hughes saw red for a late lunge at Ashley.

 Matlock could not find another goal although they were unfortunate when a back header from substitute Jake Pidcock cleared the bar. Pidcock could also have claimed a penalty at the same time as Curtis clattered into him from behind. If the offence had taken place anywhere else on the field then a free kick would most certainly have resulted .

But what the game proved more than anything is that they lack the creativity in the final third. An attacking midfielder with an eye for goal must be at the top of the Gladiators shopping list and another forward player to add competition for places would notb go amiss either.

 The effort iwas there like it usually is. They need that extra bit of quality.

MATLOCK TOWN: Richmond, Laight, Riley, Ashley (Shaw 85), Circuit, Lukic, Webster, S Taylor, Hall, Barraclough, Caudwell (Pidcock 84) Other subs: Kirkwood, Kinsler, M Taylor.

REFEREE: D Gratton (Stone) ATTENDANCE: 317 STAR MAN: Gary Webster.